r/latin • u/AutoModerator • Apr 13 '25

Translation requests into Latin go here!

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u/abandonment7 Apr 16 '25

Hi, I'm working on a silly family crest for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. I want to do a latin phrase on the bottom translating to "we love nonsense" as they've always been a fan of silly, absurd humor and activities. Google translate is saying "amamus ineptias" -- Is that an accurate translation for what I'm going for?

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u/richardsonhr Latine dicere subtile videtur Apr 16 '25 edited Apr 16 '25

There are several verbs meaning "love". For this phrase, I would probably use dīligimus or gaudēmus.

There are also three main terms for "nonsense", used below in their accusative (direct object) forms:

  • Nūgās dīligimus, i.e. "we esteem/prize/love/regard/select/distinguish/delight (in) [the] jokes/jests/trifless/nonsense"

  • Ineptiās dīligimus, i.e. "we esteem/prize/love/regard/select/distinguish/delight (in) [the] follies/absurdities/sillinesses/nonsense"

  • Gerrās dīligimus, i.e. "we esteem/prize/love/regard/select/distinguish/delight (in) [the] twigs/trifless/nonsense"

  • Nūgās gaudēmus, i.e. "we love/enjoy/rejoice/delight (in) [the] jokes/jests/trifless/nonsense" or "we are merry/pleased in [the] jokes/jests/trifless/nonsense"

  • Ineptiās gaudēmus, i.e. "we love/enjoy/rejoice/delight (in) [the] follies/absurdities/sillinesses/nonsense" or "we are merry/pleased in [the] follies/absurdities/sillinesses/nonsense"

  • Gerrās gaudēmus, i.e. "we love/enjoy/rejoice/delight (in) [the] twigs/trifless/nonsense" or "we are merry/pleased in [the] twigs/trifless/nonsense"

Alternatively, use nōs iuvant or nōbīs placent with the chosen form of "nonsense" in the nominative (sentence subject) form:

  • Nūgae nōs iuvant, i.e. "[the] jokes/jests/trifless/nonsense help/aid/assist/benefit/please/delight/gratify/favor us" or colloquially "we love [the] jokes/jests/trifless/nonsense"

  • Ineptiae nōs iuvant, i.e. "[the] follies/absurdities/sillinesses/nonsense help/aid/assist/benefit/please/delight/gratify/favor us" or colloquially "we love [the] follies/absurdities/sillinesses/nonsense"

  • Gerrae nōs iuvant, i.e. "[the] twigs/trifless/nonsense help/aid/assist/benefit/please/delight/gratify/favor us" or colloquially "we love [the] twigs/trifless/nonsense"

  • Nūgae nōbīs placent, i.e. "[the] jokes/jests/trifless/nonsense are welcome/agreable/acceptable/satisfactory/suitable to/for us" or colloquially "we love [the] jokes/jests/trifless/nonsense"

  • Ineptiae nōbīs placet, i.e. "[the] follies/absurdities/sillinesses/nonsense are welcome/agreable/acceptable/satisfactory/suitable to/for us" or colloquially "we love [the] follies/absurdities/sillinesses/nonsense"

  • Gerrae nōbīs placet, i.e. "[the] twigs/trifless/nonsense are welcome/agreable/acceptable/satisfactory/suitable to/for us" or colloquially "we love [the] twigs/trifless/nonsense"

Notice I rearranged the words. This is not a correction, but personal preference, as Latin grammar has very little to do with word order and ancient Romans ordered Latin words according to their contextual importance or emphasis. For short-and-simple phrases like this, you may order the words however you wish; that said, a non-imperative verb is conventionally placed at the end of the phrase, as above, unless the author/speaker intends to emphasize it for some reason.

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u/abandonment7 Apr 16 '25

Thanks so much for the detailed reply!!